29 January 2008

there's a colorful stack of presents from family waiting to be torn into, and we celebrated this morning with a Happy Birthday song and special blueberry birthday waffles. because we don't have a house yet officially, a party with friends will have to wait a few weeks. instead, today is a simple mini-festivity. probably for the best, because the birthday boy has a fever and cough. i don't think this will stop him from shrieking with excitement over a new toy guitar and the other gifts that await his eager little hands.

tonight we'll wear paper party hats and have a cake for him to smash if he's feeling better.

it is raining, pouring down rain, and Eli is asleep. it was snowing the day we brought him home from the hospital last year. jeremy stood at the window holding the new bundled baby and showing him the white-covered ground through weary eyes. Eli was so small and sweet. when I'd hold him close and watch him fall asleep, he'd curl up his fist with his thumb tucked in (a mama trait), and then give a gentle knock, as if dreaming of an imaginary house and a friend inside waiting to play. sometimes i can still catch him knocking.

though selfishly i often wish his growth would slow [too many moments flying by before i can catch them in a photo or write them down] i am also eager to see what new doors my curious little son will open. i know he'll be walking soon. he can already stand alone, and i am both proud and painfully tugged at whenever he does. his eyes are wide with each new encounter. his face lights up as we sing to him. he doesn't even know what a birthday is, or why we are standing there, staring at him with warm silly grins. but i think he knows that he is loved and that today we are celebrating all the things that make him so special...

16 January 2008

not because there is snow falling into our bathroom through a hole in the ceiling [though that is possible too]...

but rather because our toilet is sitting outside on the back porch.

there is enough snow to cover all but the tip-tops of brittle stems of winter grass. i am warmed by the space heater and the cat curled up small against my hip. jeremy is next door having a beer with our new neighbor who has thus far been very kind and welcoming. this is good, though we will miss aspects of the city for sure. mostly, we'll miss the proximity to many of our close friends, our church, favorite coffee spots, and of course, a house with indoor plumbing.

but renovations are underway at our new home on Oak Street. How can you not love a street named after a tree? It's so very...Father Knows Best. When daylight returns, I'll be able to see through the leafless branches across the road to the back of the log cabin library. There's a small cafe just down from there with a sign out front listing the day's menu. Always it begins with the same thing: "Pull Pork," except for two days last week when it read simply: SICK. The owner is seventy-two. Jeremy ate lunch there and said the food was a-mazing.

we are getting to know our workmen too. they are friendly and extremely hardworking. soon the toilet will return inside where it belongs! [if there is such a thing as porcelain frostbite, i am certain it has it by now.] it is cold cold cold in Tennessee. but we are warm, fed, wrapped up in flannel-plaid & fleece, and thankful for all of it. I make hot chocolate with marshmallows at night and we listen to the space heater and talk about how glad we are to be living in the "country," and how we hope the feeling lasts.

09 January 2008

we took a stop through (sobering) new orleans on our drive from houston back to nashville.since then...

we are moving out of our house next week.busy renovating at our new address.eli henry turns one this month.he is on the brink of walking.and enjoys flipping the light switch on & off. and on & off. and on & off.

that's all i have time for now...we're off to find a bathroom sink. more when things settle....